It's official, the Olympics has priced itself right out of the budgets of all but the richest countries. The 2012 London Olympics will cost more than $18 billion, three times the original estimate. That's $10.3 billion for venues and the main Olympic park, $1.6 billion for security, and the rest for various other expenses.

Oh, and that doesn't include the $3.8 billion IOC budget to actually hold the Olympics. All told, we're looking at a $22 billion Olympics. I hope it's a good show.